Fastener-setting device



20, 1929- o. J. @ROEHN FASTENER SETTING DEVICE Original Filed April 5, 1926 Patented Aug. 20, 1929.

UNITED STATES- 1,725,511 PATENT OFFICE.

OTTO J. GROEHN, OF GROSSE POINTE PARK, MICHIGAN, ASSIG-NOR TO HUDSON MOTOR CAR COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

FASTENER-SETTING DEVICE.

Original application filed April 5, 1926, Serial No. 99,795. Divided and this application filed January 16,

1929. Serial No; 332,664.

This invention relates to squeeze riveters of the general type disclosed in my prior application Serial No. 99,795, filed April 5, 1926, of which the present case is a division.

The invention has for its object to provide a portable device for setting fasteners in relatively inaccessible places, and more particularly to provide a power operated device for setting tubular or other rivets to connect the inturned flanges of the panels of metal automobile bodies, the device being especially, although not exclusively, adapted to the setting of rivets in the formation of panel joints of the type disclosed and claimed in my prior application Serial No.-50,406, filed August 15, 1925, patented December 4, 1928, No. 1,693,750. In the formation of such and similar panel joints it is desirable that the rivets connecting the panel flanges be set as closely as possible to'the inner faces of the flanges, while the nature of the work is such as substantially to require the use of ower operated setting devices. Moreover, in the asembling of a body, it is necessary to set a considerable number of rivets whose positions are widely distributed over the interior of the body, so that considerations ofeconomy, efliciency, expedition, and convenience 0 call for the use of a portable device for this urpose. The present invention has, thereore, for its primary object to provide a relatively light, portable riveting device capable of operation in the position referred to and of exerting a force of the amount re quired for this class of work.

The foregoin and other objects of the invention, toget er with means whereby the latter may be carried into effect, will best be understood from the following description of a preferred form or embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood however, that the particular construction described and shown has been chosen for illustrative purposes merely, and that the invention, as defined by. the claims hereunto appended, may be otherwise embodied without departure from its spirit and scope.

In said drawings:

Fi 1 is a substantially central longitudina section of a riveting device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail section on the line 22, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail section of a panel joint,

showing in dotted lines ,the cooperating jaws of the riveting device in position to set a rivet in said'joint.

In Fig. 3 are shown two contiguous panels an 15 of an automobile body, said panels having at their adjacentedges mturned flanges 16 which, together with the interposed flange 17 of a combined stiflening and finishing molding 18, are secured together by rivets 55 19, herein shown as of the tubular type. In order to prevent opening of the panel joint at the outer side of the bod under tensile strains, it is desirable that t e rivets 19 be set as closely as possible to the inner faces of the panels 15.

To this end the rivet setting device embodying the present invention comprises cooperating relatively movable upper and lower setting jaws 20 and 21 carrying, as closely as 6possible to their free ends, cooperating se ting or riveting dies 22 and 23. The e crating mechanism for the jaws is laterally offset so as not to interfere with positioning of the jaws, and consequently 30 of the dies, as closely as may be desired to the anels 15. I

T e jaws' 20 and 21 comprise relatively fixed and movable levers connected by a pivot 24, the lever 20 being fixedly secured to one end of a fluid pressure cylinder 31 disposed with its axis transverse to said lever or parallel to the path of relative movement of the dies 22 and 23. Operating in the cylinder 31 is a piston 32 pivotally connected by a link or rod 33 with the extended outer end of the lever 21 which projects laterally into the lower end of the cylinder 31.

Beyond the cylinder 31 is a supporting handle 36 which is preferably disposed transverse to the axis of the pivot 24 and to the path of relative movement of the dies 22 and 23, and therefore, extends away from the mechanism above described so as to permit the latter to be conveniently manipulated into operative position. The hahdle 36 is formed with a passage 37 for pressure fluid, such as compressed air, which may be supplied to the outer end thereof from any suitable source through a hose connection 38. At its opposite or inner end the passage 37 communicates with a fluid passage 56 formed in the wall of the cylinder 31 and communicating with the outer.

end of the latter above the piston 32. Fluid pressure admitted to the outer end of the cylinder 31 through the connections described causes the piston 32 to move downwardly to close the jaws upon the work, said piston being moved in the opposite direction .to open the jaws by means of springs 41 hearing at opposite ends on the fixed lever 21 and upon the bottom of the piston.

The passage 37 is intercepted by a wall 42 having a port 43 controlled by a valve 44 which is normally held seated toclose said port by a spring 45 interposed between said valve and a plug 46 which closes an opening in the handle through which said valve is inserted. At the side of the wall 42 toward the cylinder 31 the handle is formed with a port 47 communicating with the atmosphere and disposed in axial alinement with the port 43. The'valve 44 is formed with a stem 48 of smaller diameter than the port 47 and extending therethrough, said stem having at its outer end a head 49 constituting a valve for closing the port 47. The arrangement is such that when the valve 44 is seated, the valve 49 is in position to open the port 47, thereby exhausting the outer end of the cylinder 31 to the atmosphere, and when the stem 48 is depressed to open the valve 44 and admit fluid pressure to the cylinder, the valve 49 closes the port 47. The combined inlet and exhaust valve 44, 48, 49 is manually operated as above described to admit fluid pressure to the cylinder 31 and exhaust the same therefrom by means of a finger lever 50 pivoted at 51 between ears or flanges 52 formed on the upper side of the handle 36, said lever engaging the end of the valve between its free end and the pivot 5l and being extended slightly beyond said pivot, as shown at 53, to engage a stop 54 which, as shown, comprises a pin carried by the flanges 52 and extending between the same In Fig. 1 the parts are shown in the positions occupied by them at the completion of the setting operation and at the beginning of the retraction of the piston and the opening of the jaws. Normally, and with the combined pressure and exhaust valve 44, 49 in the position shown, the springs 41 hold the piston 32 in its outermost position and the jaws open. With the parts in the latter position the device is applied to a rivet to be set, with the dies 22 and 23 engaging said rivet at opposite sides, and the lever 50 depressed, thereby unseating the valve 41 and causing the valve 49 to close the exhaust port 47. Fluid pressure is thereupon admitted to the outer end of the cylin der 31, moving the piston into the position shown and closing the jaws upon the rivet to set the latter. Thereafter the lever 50 is released to permit the spring 45 to seat the valve 44 and cause the valve 49 to open the exhaust port 47 as shown, whereupon the springs 41 will retract the piston 32 and open the jaws.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A squeeze riveter, comprising ,a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, a lever secured fixedly to one end of the cylinder, a movable lever pivoted to the fixed lever, riveting dies carried .by said levers, a connecting rod pivotally connecting the movable lever to the piston, means controlling the admission and exhaust of pressure fluid to and from the cylinder, and a spring bearing on the fixed lever and the piston for retracting the piston upon the exhaust of pressure fluid from the cylinder.

2. A squeeze riveter, comprising a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, a lever secured fixedly to one end of the cylinder and extendin in a direction transverse to the axis oi the latter, a movable lever pivoted to the fixed lever, riveting dies carried by said levers, a connecting rod pivotally connecting the movable lever to the piston, means controlling the admission and exhaust of pressure fluid to and from the cylinder, and a spring bearing on the fixed lever and the piston or retracting the piston upon the exhaust of pressure fluid from the cylinder.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

OTTO J. GROEHN. 

